Axle-lubricator



(No Model.)

I. B. ABRAHAM.

AXLB LUBRIGATOR..

No. 417,850. Patented Dec. 24, 1889.

ATTORNEY lIO UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC B. ABRAHAM, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN B. THOMAS, OF ILLINOIS.

vAxLE-LUsmoAfoR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,850, dated December 24, 1889. Application filed September 6, 1889. Serial No. 323,218. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC B. ABRAHAM, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axle-Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of lubricators which are usually applied for use in connection with locomotiveaxles. In this class of lubricators a box or receptacle, commonly called by railroad mechanics the cellar, is used, which is usually packed with suitable absorbent materialsuch as hemp or grass rope-placed on end, and which is freely saturated vby the lubricating-oil, which is poured into said receptacle. In practice the cellar is first tightly packed with the lubricating material, then placed in position beneath the axle, and securely bolted in position. By this arrangement after the locomotive has been in use for about two to three months the top or meeting end of,` the lubricating material, as well as the grooves in the sides of the cellar, is worn away by the continued frictional contact of the axle with said parts, thereby preventing a proper feed of the lubricant to the axle, andalso allowing the lubricatingoil to spill or splash out at the side grooves in said cellar. To again arrange the cellar so as to operate in an effectual manner, it usually requires the services of two men to take down the lubricating-box, raise the rope filling by placing cotton waste or other material beneath it, and then adjust same back in position. This operation usually requires from two to three hours labor of the two men.

To overcome the aforesaid objections and to provide a lubricating-cellar which is arranged to automatically feed the absorbent materialto the axle and to provide means whereby splashing' or waste of the oil is prevented and sand and dirt are kept therefrom is the object of my invention, which consists in certain novel features of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described in the annexed specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of my improvement as applied to a locomotive-axle. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box. Fig. 4 is a similar View of the false bottom; and Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the detent or lockingscrew, which will hereinafter be fully described.

IVhile I shall describe my invention as applied in use to a locomotive-axle, to which it is more especially adapted, I desire it understood that the same, with slight modifications of construction, may be readily adapted for use in connection with the ordinary car-axles.

In the accompanying drawings, Aiudicates the axle, on which is adjusted the upper portion of the axle-box B, formed with bearingblocks or brasses of the usual construction.

C denotes the lower port-ion or cellar of the axle-box, the construction of which forms the subject-matter of myinvention, and which consists of a rectangular metal box C', open at its top, as shown.

The ends c c of the box C are provided with semicircular cut-out portions c c, so as to enable the box to be fitted against the axle, said cut-out portions being of a slightly greater diameter than the axle, so as to prevent frictional contact between the salne and the axle. The lower ends of the box are cast withA suitable apertured lugs c2 c2, through which the securing-bolts I I are passed for securing same in position. Upon the inner faces of the sides of the box and near the ends thereof are cast vertical ribs c3 c3, which, with the ends of the box, form grooves or channels d d, as shown.

A spring-presser is used for feeding the lubricating material to the axle, which is preferably constructed as shown, and which consists of the false bottom E, which fits inside the box C', so as to easily move up or down therein, the ends c of said bottom being provided with4 notches e c,which tit over the ribs c3 c3.

D denotes wooden, brass, or babbitt wearblocks, which are provided with spherical recesses, and which fitto move vertically in the grooves d d, the upper recessed ends snugly iitting the lower half of the axle, as shown.

F F are stout leaf-springs secured upon the under face of the false bottom, as most clearly shown in Fig. t of the drawings, their outer ends bearing upon the bottom C2 of the box C. The central portion of the bottom Czof the box C is provided with a boss C3, having a screw-threaded aperture c4, in which iits the screw-threaded portion g of the locking screw or detent G, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The upper end of this screw is extended and formed into wings g g', which pass up through a central aperture H in the false bottom E, said aperture being provided with lateral wings 7L h, for a purconsists of hemp grass rope, the., is tightly' packed in position usually with ends up and arranged to engage the lower half of the axle. The wear-blocks D D are then adj usted in position. The box is then placed in position beneath the axle, its sides bearing flush against the upper part of vthe axle-box, and is secured in such position by the bolts I I in theusual manner, and the lubricating-oil injected into the box through a suitable oilopening, or the oil may be poured into the box before it isiixed in position. After the box is securely put in position the screw G is given a partial turn until the wings g g thereof are in alignment with the wings 7L h of the aperture H of the bottom E. The springs F F will then force the bottom upward and press the blocks D D and the lubricating material against the axle. It will thus be seen that as t-he material is worn off by frictional wear the springs will automatically feed the material to the axle, and by arranging the wearblocks D as described waste of the oil or the entrance of dirt thereto is prevented. By

While in this po@ this construction the necessity of removing the cellar every two or three months is avoided, as a cellar constructed according to my invention will last from the time the engine leaves the shop until it returns thereto for ordinary repairs. It will also be seen that myimproved cellar may replace the cellars of ordinary construction without materially changing the construction of the adjacent parts. V

Having thus described myinvention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. In a lubricating-cellar for car-axles, the combination, with the box C', of a springpresser for feeding the lubricating material to the axle and wear-blocks operating within the box, said blocks automatically fed in contact with the axle by the spring-presser, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the box or receptacle C', of the spring-presser E and a detent or restraining device for holding said presser from operation, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination,with the box C', of the spring-presser E, provided with a central winged aperture H, and a detent or restraining device for holding said presser from operation, said device consisting of a screw G, held in the bottom of said box C, provided with extensions or wings g g', said wings adapted to be bent down over the presser E when turned at right angles to the wings of the aperture H and to iit within said winged portions when turned in alignment therewith, substantially as and for the purpose described.

at. The herein-described improvements in cellars for car-axle lubricators, consisting of a box or receptacle C', provided with vertical grooves or channels on their inner ends, a spring-actuated false bottom, wear-blocks vertically adjustable in said grooves or channels, supported at their lower ends on said false bottom, and a detent or restraining device, as G, for holding said false bottom out of operation, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

l. B. ABRAHAM. Vtitnesses:

SoLoN C. KnMoN, CHAs. A. PETTIT. 

